Obama promos Kal Penn convention webcast in ad
(CBS News) As the nation's most prominent Democrats descend onto Charlotte for the Democratic National Convention this week, the Obama campaign is reminding voters that they, too, can watch the festivities - in online coverage hosted by famed fictional pothead and former Obama administration member Kal Penn.
Penn, an actor in the marijuana-centric "Harold & Kumar" movies, will host Thursday night's live event coverage at BarackObama.com in an apparent appeal for young voters.
In a web ad touting the coverage, President Obama delivers a mock-serious phone call to Penn, urging him to "get this right."
"Hey this is Barack. Listen, I need to know if you're on board," says Mr. Obama, pictured on the phone relaying what appears to be a crucial task to a yet-to-be-identified personality. "I'm counting on you. Everybody is. We have to get this right. So there's a lot at stake. Just remember that I'm trusting you on this and I'll see you there."
The video then cuts to Penn and his "Harold & Kumar" co-starJ ohn Cho, splayed in front of empty pizza boxes and watching what appear to be cartoons in a fashion not inconsistent with the behavior their often-stoned alter egos might display.
"Who was that? It sounded intense," Cho says.
"The president," Penn responds, before the two become distracted by a bouncing noise on tv and begin laughing hysterically.
Penn campaigned for Mr. Obama in 2008 and took a two-year hiatus from acting to serve in the Office of Public Engagement. He left in 2010 to film another "Harold & Kumar" movie.
Penn will also speak at the DNC Tuesday night.
According to the Obama campaign, the Penn-hosted webcast will include interviews with a number of "special guests" - including Marc Anthony, Elizabeth Banks, Aisha Tyler, Olivia Wilde, Fran Drescher, Zach Braff and Alexis Bledel.
